title: Temporal-spatial parameters of gait in transfemoral amputees: Comparison of bionic and mechanically passive knee joints.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A symmetrical gait affords the most efficient walking pattern. Bionic prostheses should provide better gait symmetry than mechanically passive prostheses with respect to a nonpathological gait.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the basic temporal-spatial parameters of gait in transfemoral amputees fitted with bionic or mechanically passive prosthetic knees with those of subjects with a nonpathological gait.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-dimensional gait analysis using an optoelectronic device.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight transfemoral amputees participated in the study. Subjects walked across two dynamometric platforms a total of 15 times. Movement kinematics were measured using optoelectronic stereophotogrammetry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The swing time of the affected limb in patients fitted with a mechanically passive knee joint was longer than that of the nonaffected limb by 0.055 s (effect size = 1.57). Compared with the control group, the swing time of the prosthetic limb in patients fitted with a mechanically passive knee was longer by 0.042 s (effect size = 2.1). Similarly, the stance time of the nonaffected limb was longer by 0.047 s (effect size = 1.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with a mechanically passive knee joint, a bionic knee joint evinced gait symmetry. Both the stance time and the swing time for amputees with a bionic knee were similar to those of nonamputees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prosthetists aim to design prostheses that achieve a good symmetry between the healthy and affected limbs. The use of bionic technology achieves a level of symmetry approaching that observed in nonamputees.
authors.affiliation: Human Motion Diagnostics Center, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic jaroslav.uchytil@osu.cz.
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uchytil
authors.affiliation: Human Motion Diagnostics Center, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jandacka
authors.affiliation: Human Motion Diagnostics Center, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zahradnik
authors.affiliation: Human Motion Diagnostics Center, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farana
authors.affiliation: Palacký University Olomouc, Faculty of Physical Culture, Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000674:Amputees; D001701:Bionics; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design
keywords: Amputation; bionic knee joint; gait; kinematic analysis; prosthesis